Taking the Metro in DC
Advice for Trains and Transportation in Downtown Washington DC
The Metro in the Washington Metropolitan area is one of the most convenient and well-run public transportation business in the United States. It is always clean, and usually accountable to the pre-planned train and bus schedules.
Planning Your Trip
Before you even step out the door, you can visit the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website. Here, you can do anything from browsing train and bus schedules to creating a specified schedule to adapt to your needs. Be sure to study the metro map, making sure you understand where you change trains (i.e. from the red line to the blue line) and where your stops are.
Escalators
Natives of Washington D.C. can always spot a tourist on the escalators. The unwritten law goes as follows: if you are walking, walk on the left. If you are standing, stand on the right side. This quick and easy rule of thumb allows people to rush if they are late for a train, without being blocked by standing persons.
Tickets
Tickets to the Metro can be bought in two forms: the SmartCard and the Farecard. Both can be bought just inside any Metro entrance. The Farecard is ideal for short-term traveling, or when you are not planning on repeated trips on the Metro. The SmartCard costs an extra fee, and it is ideal for people who take daily (or weekday) trips downtown. If you are parking your vehicle in one of the Metro Parking Garages, you must have a SmartCard in order to leave (also, you must have the required amount of money paid on the SmartCard).
To buy a SmartCard, use the skinny booths (usually to the left of the rest of the ticket vendors). To recharge a SmartCard (or check the balance), go to one of the light-blue ticket vendors just inside any metro and tap your card on the big circle in the middle. The vendor will give you instructions from there – don’t worry too much about it, the directions are very clear if you are sure to read them. To purchase a Farecard, go to one of the black or dark brown vendors. You will have to decide between several purchasing options, including an all-day pass (ideal for tourists hoping to hit as many sites as possible) and just putting a set amount of money on a ticket and refilling it as necessary.
Trains
Like most subway systems, trains on one side of the station go in one direction, and trains on the other side of the system go in the other direction. There are large signs on either side, indicating which trains will arrive within the next twenty minutes or so, and where they will final destination will be (i.e. for the Red line, they typically end at either the Glenmont or the Shady Grove stops).
Once you get the basics down, the Metro will be no problem at all. And remember, there are always workers at the Metro who will help if you are confused or need directions.
